- FUOYE announced it would graduate 7,684 students, including 131 first-class graduates, at its 10th convocation ceremony
- The Vice-Chancellor highlighted major achievements, including new programmes, infrastructural projects, and a surge in student enrolment
- The university recorded higher accreditation success, increased revenue, and unveiled plans to expand ICT and AI-driven learning
The Federal University Oye-Ekiti (FUOYE) is set to graduate a total of 7,684 students at its 10th convocation ceremony, comprising 7,396 undergraduates and 288 postgraduates.
The outgoing Vice-Chancellor of the university, Professor Abayomi Fasina, disclosed this on Monday during a pre-convocation press conference held ahead of the ceremony. He provided a detailed breakdown of graduating undergraduate students, revealing that 131 earned first class honours, 2,519 graduated with second class upper division, 3,777 graduated with second class lower division, 966 earned third class degrees, and three earned pass degrees.
Professor Fasina said the milestone convocation reflects the significant academic and infrastructural progress the university has made over the past five years under his administration. According to him, FUOYE has experienced rapid growth in student population, academic offerings, and physical development.
He disclosed that the institution has introduced 24 new academic programmes and developed a 25-year strategic roadmap to guide the university’s long-term growth, sustainability, and global competitiveness. The Vice-Chancellor added that more than 160 projects have been completed across the university’s campuses during the period, and that 10 centres and affiliated colleges nationwide have been established to expand academic reach and enhance revenue generation.
On enrolment, Professor Fasina noted that when he assumed office, the university had a student population of about 20,000, which had since grown to over 60,000 within his five-year tenure. He described the growth as a testament to Nigerians' increasing confidence in the university’s academic standards and management.
Addressing accreditation, the Vice-Chancellor revealed that 91 academic programmes have been fully accredited, while pharmacy, radiography, and statistics programmes are currently undergoing accreditation. He also disclosed that the university procured training and conference equipment valued at $55,600 to enhance capacity building for staff and students and to strengthen research output.
Professor Fasina further stated that FUOYE has recorded a remarkable 310 per cent increase in internally generated revenue (IGR), significantly improving its financial sustainability. Looking ahead, he said the university would place greater emphasis on information and communication technology (ICT) and the application of artificial intelligence (AI) in teaching, learning, and research.
He stressed the need for sustained engagement with regulatory bodies and government authorities, while calling for diversifying revenue through grants, partnerships, endowments, and consultancy services. He also announced the introduction of an Emeritus Professors Policy to recognise exceptional academic leadership and service, under which former Vice-Chancellors will be conferred with the title upon retirement.
At the convocation ceremony, the honour will be bestowed on Professors Chinedu Nebo, Isaac Asuzu, and Kayode Soremekun. Professor Fasina added that he would also be eligible for the Emeritus Professorship upon attaining the age of 70.
He urged stakeholders to support the FUOYE 2050 Endowment Fund, describing it as critical to the institution’s future development, and emphasised the need to promote and reward innovative, high-impact research beyond career advancement.
Court orders FUOYE to pay N40m to professor over unlawful dismissal
Meanwhile, TheRadar previously reported that the National Industrial Court in Akure had directed the Federal University, Oye Ekiti (FUOYE), Ekiti State, to compensate Professor Niyi Akingbe, the former Acting Dean of the Faculty of Arts, with N40 million due to wrongful dismissal.
Court documents obtained by a Vanguard Correspondent in Ilorin indicate that the judgment in suit number NICN/AK/58/2018, dated October 29, 2024, was delivered by the Presiding Judge, Honourable Justice K.D. Damulak, in the case between the claimant, Dr Oniyide Ajisafe Akingbe, and the Federal University of Ado-Ekiti.